India is a diverse place and this diverseness has also shown up in our plates. If you are a person who gets his dose of happiness from food, India is the place you were supposed to be in. Be it any state, the street food options from that place are endless. And not just that, the taste is lip-smacking and that too at a very pocket-friendly price. If adventure is not your thing and food is the only spice in your life, then you have a reason to travel in India. Everywhere you go, you will be greeted with some traditional recipe that will awe and satiate the foodie within you. We have carefully created a list of 9 best street food in India, so get ready to relish on these mouth-watering delicacies whenever you get time.
1. Delhi- Momos and Dahi Bhalle
Delhi, the national capital itself is a foodies delight. With people from all parts of India living in this city, there are a variety of food items that can be found here itself. The most famous eat street here is Chandani Chowk in Old Delhi. You will find every food item that is enough to satisfy every vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian. However, two street food that Delhi is known for is Momo and Dahi Bhalle.
The food has its origin in Tibet, however, Indians have adopted this dish and also innovated with this dish to present many more types of Momos. There are the steamed momos and fried momos with an endless variety of fillings such as Mutton, chicken, paneer, gravy, wheat, Kurkure, etc.
Another famous street food in Delhi is Dahi Bhalle. Dahi Bhalle is made in entire North India but if you are a fan of Dahi bhallas you should definitely visit Delhi to get the original taste. The crispiness of the freshly made bhallas, spicy Aloo Tikki and chutney dipped in fresh curd along with added secret spices is a taste that you won't forget. So barge on foodies, there is a lot more on offer in Delhi than this list can enlist. If you are a foodie, you must book hotel in Connaught place or hotel in Paharganj from where Chandani Chowk is close.
2. Mumbai- Vada Pao And Pav Bhaji
Vada Pav, also known as the Indian burger is the trademark Mumbai street food without which any street food tour will not be complete. The vada pav consists of a bun bread or the pav and a fritter i.e. the vada stuffed with mashed potato. Vada Pav is served along with both spicy and sweet chutneys, garlic and ginger chutney and fried chillies. You can also get different flavours like Schezwan Vada Pav, cheese Vada Pav and even Grilled Vada Pav.
Pav bhaji is yet another popular food offering from the streets of Mumbai that has become famous in entire India. Go to any restaurant and you will get Pav bhaji as breakfast or evening snack. The Bhaji is a spicy assortment of vegetables cooked with spices and seasonings. It is served along with Pav i.e. bread which is fried with butter on a pan. The Bhaji is also seasoned with Lemon and onions. If you are hungry and on a budget in Mumbai, you will find a plethora of stalls serving Pav Bhaji even late in the night. You must also try Tawa Pulao and Bun Maska on these stalls. You can definitely skip the meal at your 5-star hotel near Mumbai airport and walk to a nearby stall to enjoy this mouth-watering buttery delight. You can also visit Mumbai with your live-in partner. There are a lot of hotels for unmarried couples in Mumbai.
3. Kolkata- Kathi Rolls, Puchkas
The Nizam restaurant of Kolkata was the first to come up with Kathi roll and slowly, this street food made its way to all over India. Though you can find it almost anywhere in India now, the taste that you will get at its origin is something that cannot be recreated anywhere.
Bengal is also famous for its Puchka stalls. The round & crispy puris are stuffed with a spicy mix of mashed potato, chickpeas, tamarind paste, sliced onions and coriander water. The flavours quickly dissolve in your mouth and create such a unique taste that everyone loves this street food. You will always find a Puchka stall in Kolkata wherever you go. If you and your partner are foodies, just visit Kolkata whenever you can. There are numerous couple friendly hotel in Kolkata where you can have a memorable stay with your love.
4. Ahmedabad- Dabeli
From a glance, you won't be able to tell apart a Dabeli and Vada Pav. It is found in almost every stall in Ahmedabad serving snacks. The difference between Dabeli and Vada Pav is mainly in the stuffing. The stuffing in Dabeli is called Dabeli Masala. It is made up of crushed peanuts, mashed potatoes, mixed with a lot of different spices. The Dabeli Masala is further topped with Sev, pomegranate seeds and chutney. The sweet flavour in the spicy mix is a traditional part of Gujarati dish and Dabeli owes its taste to the Gujarati style.
5. Punjab- Cholle Bhaturey and Lassi
Punjab is the land of Parathas, Makke di roti and Sarso da saag. However, one of the street food that is most famous here is the crispy and buttery Bhature served with chole. Amritsar is the main city in Punjab where you will find the best of this street food. The deep-fried Bhature served with spicy chole coupled with a huge glass of lassi or buttermilk. You will never get bored of eating a Chola Bhatura in Punjab and the Lassi is so sweet that no other dessert can replace it. Whenever you get the chance to visit Amritsar, don't eat at your hotel, rather barge on to the local market and have a plate or two of this delicious delight of Punjab.
6. Hyderabad- Mirchi Bajji
We all know Hyderabad's Biryani is world-famous but there is this another snack which is very common in Hyderabad and is definitely worth a try. The dish is called Mirchi Bajji which is essentially big green chillis fried in besan and topped with onion, lemon and a huge assortment of spices. The taste and flavour in this dish are really irreplaceable and one must have this unique offering once in their lifetime. Do visit Hyderabad for an extensive food tour. Read about the 11 little known food outlets in Hyderabad that are bang for your buck.
7. Lucknow- Tunde Kabab
Lucknow, the City of Nawabs is famous for its food among many other things. Aminabad market, one of the oldest in the city is home to several mouth-watering dishes and one such famous street food here is Tunde Kabab. This non-vegetarian delight is made with minced meat. The man who invented this dish- Haji Murad Ali had only one hand and so the name Tunde which is slang for a one-handed person came into being. The Tunde Kebab served here is so soft that even if you don't have teeth, even then you will be able to savour its delight.
Also read: Top 7 things to do in Lucknow: Food, Shopping, Sightseeing and more
8. Karnataka- Paddu
South Indian dishes are a perfect mixture of health and taste. Puddu is one of the street food that is very popular in Karnataka. Paddu resembles a lot with dosa though a bit smaller in size and hence called the twin of Dosa. Firstly, rice and black lentils are used to prepare the batter which is poured in specially designed moulds and cooked with steam. This street food unlike its North Indian counterparts is not too heavy and can be eaten as breakfast as well as an evening snack. Couple it with your tea or coffee and it will taste even better. Add some sliced onions to the batter and eat it with coconut chutney. You will surely keep asking for more of it.
9. Madhya Pradesh- Poha Jalebi
A mixture of sweet and sour presented in the form of street food is essentially Poha Jalebi. Made popular in Bhopal and Indore, Poha Jalebi is now found in all parts of Madhya Pradesh and even Chattisgarh. The dish is made from a mixture of flattened rice fried with several veggies and spices. Lemon and chaat masala is sprinkled over it and is then served with sugar dipped Jalebis. The combination of Sweet and sour cannot be better than this street food. Whenever you visit Madhya Pradesh, don't forget to indulge in this tasty delight.
These are some of the tastiest flavours from India's street and you will surely love feasting on these desi delicacies. Whenever you get a chance to visit a new place in India, do try their local dishes. You will find the taste extraordinary and an aroma that you have never experienced.
Must read: 7 little known food outlets in Pune that are bang for your buck